First Tentative Steps out of Lockdown
- Crackneck Headland to Shelly Beach
Monday 1st June was the first day it was legal to drive and stay away from your place of shelter.
As soon as we could, after that we tentatively set out. I say tentatively as we had not been out much at all and we had to watch the traffic and the increased movement about. We also didn’t feel easy about buying takeaway food even coffee. I must say I have envied the young ones sitting on blankets in the sun enjoying boxes of crispy salty sea food and others sitting up to served food in the alfresco places I pass.
On our way to our beach retreat we stopped at the Crackneck Headland to do our first whale watching and as I faced the sea it just took my breath away. It was a gorgeous day admittedly and many people sitting watching . There was a hush all around.
The sea was vast. Vaster then I ever remembered it . . . spread out in its immensity with a sheer silken surface . It was alive as its moved and wrinkled as if someone, maybe the goddess of the sea was moving under its cover . . .the horizon dividing the sea and sky like a fine line separating the two shades of blue. As I looked out, the sea claimed even more, its aliveness as the waves caterpillar across the ocean, pursuing each other, perpetually. That sense of feel-good ran right through my body like electricity. I guess it is the feel-good hormone running sparking my blood. I felt alive invigorated. The ocean renews me.
Someone said whales were there but far out and I know Michael and I can’t see that now but what joy to know the whales were there . It added to the sense of amazement of this ocean like a goddess in all its presence and not changed in our months of lock down and my absence.
Yes it makes me feel small, insignificant but as I become smaller my awe becomes greater. It gives me all the meaning I need in life to see this . . well it is the meaning in a way. and that makes me feel grand with meaning.
From this came the idea i have the ocean in my heart and so I had to write a poem about it .
We decided I would walk from the Lookout to meet Michael at Shelley Beach. The walk was about an hour and goes through Wyrrabalong National Park which it is more a coastal corridor with some wonderful glimpses of the sea and some good stands of Banksia and Red Gums and Palms. I have written it up before, but this time I felt it has been neglected and people have walked heavily thru it and it is damaged. No rubbish but there its not the graceful respect we need in our precious forests.
